Get Ready for the “Your Move” Ingeniosus Awards!

by Deborah Mersino

Giddiness is a state of mind. Right now, I have several endeavors causing me to feel giddy. Among them is a new awards program I’m readying to launch in 2012. The idea for this program came to me a while ago. We even had a #gtchat about various possible aspects of the social responsibility program geared to inspire gifted, talented, and creative students from all over the world to use technology and ideation for social good.

You may remember we tossed around several potential names for the program, including “Seeds for Social Good” and “Technovisionaries.” It wasn’t until today, though, that I decided to move forward. I was reading Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos.com, Inc. With rapt attention, I devoured chapter after chapter and learned about Hsieh’s various entrepreneurial endeavors and how the name Zappos came to be (means “shoe” in Spanish with an extra “p” to avoid mispronunciation). Something clicked inside me and made me realize the time for this program is now. Since Ingeniosus means “talented and able” in Latin, I realized I already had a name.

The “Your Move” Ingeniosus Awards Program will commence in 2012, and planning is already underway. The global awards program will be housed on the Ingeniosus Web site. Stay tuned for a video announcement in mid-December and the official announcement in January.

This program will combine the best of 21st Century Learning, visionary thinking, entrepreneurial prowess and support, and socially responsible missions. I’m currently lining up judges, mentors, and sponsors for the “Your Move” Ingeniosus Awards Program, and yes, I’m giddy about the prospects.

Here’s to a satisfying year of igniting bright young minds with bursts of inspiration to benefit our collective futures!